The Tourist and the Tortoise Lyrics

Lyric discussion by NotYetThere 

Cover art for The Tourist and the Tortoise lyrics by Modest Mouse

To me, this song says that we don't know where we are in the universe and we don't care. We're too concerned with wealth and we do not think ahead.

Humanity as a whole is ill-prepared for survival in the universe at large, and we are vastly ill-equipped. The man, given a choice between immediate wealth or knowledge, chooses wealth - money over bettering himself.